By Jacques Caffieri
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A French 19th century pair of Ormolu andirons
Designed with Two Sitting Dogs on a cushion and resting on a Louis XVI Style base
After the famous model by Jacques Caffieri (1678-1755)
Circa 1880
Jacques Caffie´ri (1678-1755), a sculptor famous for his works in bronze, was the son of Philippe Caffie´ri (1634-1716), who emigrated from Naples to Paris at the request of Cardinal Mazarin to decorate the interiors at Versailles. He was elected to the Academe de Sainte-Luc as a sculptor, and thus created many of the original designs that were proprietary models of his foundry.
Jacques was received as a mai^tre fondeur-ciseleur by 1715, the date of his first known work, a design for a pall for the Corporation des Fondeurs-Ciseleurs, one of the two Parisian guilds that oversaw works cast in metal.
Caffieri was appointed fondeur-ciseleur des Ba^timents du Roi in 1736. Following this a large proportion of his best work as a designer and chaser in bronze was executed for commissions to the crown at Versailles, Fontainebleau, Marly, Compie`gne, Choisy and the Cha^teau de La Muette. In fact he executed so much work for the crown that they were forever in his debt, still owing him money at his death.
In addition to these royal commissions from his workshop in rue des Canettes came an amazing amount of work, chiefly in the shape of gilt bronze furniture mounts...
Category
French Louis XVI Antique 1880s Andirons